Polyhydroxy-fatty amide surfactant composition and method of preparing same

Abstract

A process for preparing a surfactant composition comprising reacting an N-alkylpolyhydroxyamine and an alkoxylated triglyceride of a fatty acid to produce a mixture of a polyhydroxy-fatty amide, an alkoxylated monoglyceride of a fatty acid, and an alkoxylated diglyceride of a fatty acid, the resulting mixture providing a water soluble surfactant composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for preparing a surfactant composition comprising: reacting an N-alkylpolyhydroxyamine and an alkoxylated triglyceride of a fatty acid having the general formula: ##STR9## wherein n is 2 to 4; a, b, and c can be the same or different and are integers of from 1 to 300; and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  can be the same or different and are hydrocarbyl groups having from 4 to 40 carbon atoms under reaction conditions to produce a mixture of a polyhydroxy- fatty amide, an alkoxylated monoglyceride of a fatty acid, and an alkoxylated diglyceride of a fatty acid under reaction conditions to produce a mixture of a polyhydroxy-fatty amide, an alkoxylated monoglyceride of a fatty acid, and an alkoxylated diglyceride of a fatty acid.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1, wherein the mole ratio of said triglyceride to said N-alkylpolyhydroxyamine is about 3:1 to about 1:12. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1, wherein said reaction is conducted at a temperature of from about the melting point of said triglyceride to about 200° C. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1, wherein said reaction is conducted in the presence of a basic catalyst in an amount of from 0.5 mole % or higher based on said triglyceride. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1 wherein said N-alkylpolyhydroxyamine has the general formula: ##STR10## wherein R' is hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and Z is a linear polyhydroxyhydrocarbon radical having at least three OH groups. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1 wherein n is 2; a, b, and c are from 1 to 300; and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are alkyl groups having from 7 to 20 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       7. A surfactant composition derived from reacting an alkoxylated triglyceride of a fatty acid having the general formula: ##STR11## wherein n is 2 to 4; a, b, and c can be the same or different and are integers of from 1 to 300; and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  can be the same or different and are hydrocarbyl groups having from 4 to 40 carbon atoms and an N-alkyl-polyhydroxyamine to produce a reaction product comprising a mixture of a polyhydroxy-fatty amide, an alkoxylated monoglyceride of a fatty acid, and an alkoxylated diglyceride of a fatty acid wherein said glycerides have the general formula: ##STR12## wherein d can be any one of a, b, or c, as defined above, and wherein, in the case of the monoglyceride, ##STR13## ##STR14## ##STR15## provided that one of A, B, or C must be ##STR16## and two of A, B, or C must be H; and in the case of the diglyceride, two of A, B, or C must be ##STR17## and one of A, B, or C must be H. 
     
     
       8. The surfactant composition of claim 7 wherein the amount of said monoglyceride and diglyceride in said surfactant composition is sufficient to impart water solubility to said surfactant composition. 
     
     
       9. The surfactant composition of claim 7 wherein said polyhydroxy-fatty amide is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 60% by weight. 
     
     
       10. The surfactant composition of claim 7 wherein n is 2; a, b, and c are from 0 to 300; and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are alkyl groups having from 7 to 20 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       11. A surfactant composition produced according to the method of any of claims 1 and 2-5. 
     
     
       12. The process of claim 1 wherein said reaction is conducted in a one-step, single reaction vessel manner.